6.5mm is a bad idea for ELK. If you're on a budget do this:
Rem700LR(7mm rem mag or 300 win mag) $700 in your hands (
https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/mobile/product/79957/redirect) - this is an amazing deal considering it comes with a $280 bell and Carlson stock with integral aluminum bedding block. And if it won't shoot you only have about $400 in the action so you have a good start to a custom rifle.
Factory trigger is serviceable ($100-150 Timney or trigger tech optional)
Glass bedding (easy to dIY for $15 jb weld but $100-150 at gunsmith)
Sightron siii 3.5-10x44mm ($650 new) - best glass/tracking for the $ IMO
Harrels prescion muzzle brake ($100-150 install by gunsmith) - will reduce recoil by 70% and allow you to spot your impacts over 3-400yds.
Get a good 20moa steel one piece scope base (<$100, recommend tps)
TPS aluminum low 30mm rings ($120) - recommend aluminum rings due to different thermal expansion of steel/aluminum, don't want to stress scope tube.
That's a total of $1870 (conservatively) for a 1moa 1000yd hunting rifle. If you reload great, if not, you can buy good 7mmRM/300WM at any gun shop.